Latch mechanism



April 18, 1944. A. F. BAKER LATCH MECHANISM Filed April 9. 1941 z sheets sneet 1 INVENTOR Ffidier:

AOR

April 18, 1944- A. F. BAKER 2,347,146

LATCH MECHANISM I Filed April 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z l. l6!

INVENTOR BY M I ATTGREYa.

Patented Apr. 18, 1944 LATCH MECHANISM Albert F. Baker, Jackson, Mich., assignor to Hancock Manufacturing Company, Jackson, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application April 9, 1941, Serial No. 387,714

2 Claims.

' The present invention relates to latching devices, and in particular provides an improved latch construction of the rotary bolt type.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a latch construction of the above general type, which is simple in construction, economical of manufacture, and which is reliable and efficient in operation; to provide such a construction embodying an improved keeper structure which is cooperable with the latch bolt to hold the associated door in either a partially closed or a fully closed position; to provide such a construction so arranged that it can be applied to doors having relatively narrow rails; to provide an improved keeper structure having a fixed portion for cooperation with a bolt to hold the parts in a fully closed position and having a bodily movable safety catch which is cooperable with such bolt to hold the parts in a partially closed position; to provide such a keeper construction wherein the safety catch is bodily movable in an armate path between bolt engaging and retracted positions; and to provide such a construction in which the bodily movement of the safety catch can be effected by the'bolt during the closing movement of the door but wherein such safety catch blocks movement of the bolt in an opening direction.

With the above, as well as other objects in view, which appear in the following description and in the appended claims, preferred but illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings throughout the several views of which corresponding reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts and in which:

Figure 1 is an interior view of a vehicle body, showing the present latch structure applied to the right-hand rear door thereof;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the latch structure of Fig. 1;

- Fig. 3 is a view in section, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the latch structure of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a detail view, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig, 2, and showing the parts in the fully closed position;

. Fig. 6 is a detail view corresponding in general to Fig. 5, but showing the parts in the partially closed or safety position;

- Fig. 7 is a detail view, taken along the line 1.-'! of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a view in section, takenalong the line 88 of Fig, 7; and,

Fig. 9 is a view in section, taken along the line 9-9 ofFig. 8. i. I

It will be appreciated from a complete understanding of the present invention that in the broader aspects the improvements thereof may be applied to a variety of uses other than the latching of automobile doors, and that such improvements may be embodied in forms which difier from the specific forms herein disclosed. By way of illustration but not of limitation, the present improvements are herein disclosed as applied to the latching of the rear door of an automobile and the latch parts which are carried by the door are, in general, arranged as described and claimed in the copending application of Theodore N. King, Serial No. 385,513, filed March 27, 1941, which has become Patent No. 2,329,120, dated September 7, 1943, and assigned to the assignee of this application.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrative rear door it] is hinged, by means not shown, along its front edge to the pillar [2 of the associated vehicle body. The rear edge of the door is provided with a cut-away portion M to accommodate the rear wheel housing of the associated body, and this cut-away portion extends upwardly to a point relatively close to the window opening l6 of the door It. The latch I8 is received within the body of the door in the vertical space between the window opening and the cut-away portion l4.

Except in respects hereinafter noted, the latch i8 follows the construction of Patent No. 2,195,179, granted March 26, 1940, and comprises generally a rotary bolt 22, having a series of equi-angularly spaced, generally radially extending keeper-engaging teeth 24 and a corresponding series of cam engaging teeth 28. The bolt 22 is pivotally supported upon the flange of the case plate by means of a pivot pin 28, one end whereof is journalled in a housing 30, which encloses the lower portion of that part of the bolt 22 which projects outwardly of the rail Illa of the door in, and the inner end whereof is 'pivotally supported upon a deck 32, which is secured to the flange 34 of the latch plate, but in inwardly spaced relation thereto. The door rail Illa and the flange 34 of the case plate are provided with registering openings through which the body of the bolt 22 and the housing 30 are projected, and it will be observed that the keeper engaging teeth 24 are positioned externally of the door rail Illa, whereas'the cam engaging teeth 26 are positioned within the door, in the space between the case plate flange 34 and the deck 32.

In order to prevent rotation of the bolt 22 in a door opening direction, the bolt is provided with a series, three being shown, of cams designated collectively as 36. The cams 36 are pivotally supported between the flange 34 and the deck 32 by means of a pin 38, and the upper end portions 36a of the cams 36 are deflected to accom modate the correspondingly angled portion of the rail Mia. The cams 36 are continuously biased to the normal positions shown in Fig. 4, by means of usual springs 46, one whereof is provided for each cam. In accordance with the arrangement disclosed in the above-numbered patent, the cams 36 are, relative to each other, of progressively increasing size, and the shortest cam is provided with a laterally offset foot 42 for cooperation with the nose 44 of the hereinafter described retracting lever 46. In addition, the just-mentioned shortest cam is provided with a second foot 48, which overlies the backs of the other cams, so that a retracting movement of such shortest cam is accompanied. by corresponding retracting movements of the other cams.

The means for retracting the cams 36 from holding engagement with the bolt 22 comprises the previously mentioned retracting lever 46.

Lever '66 is pivotally mounted between the base 86 of the case plate and a usual deck 82, which is carried thereby but spaced therefrom, by means of a pivot pin 84, and is provided with the previously mentioned cam engaging nose 44, a nose 66 and an armlike extension 66. The nose 66 is disposed in the path of movement of a laterally turned foot 96- formed on a supplemental lever 62, which is also pivotally mounted upon the pin and is normally urged to the position shown Fig. 2 by means of a usual spring 64. The arm 68 is provided with a pin 96, which is received in an elongated slot 98, provided in the link I66. which, as will be understood, extends to the usual inside handle I63. The just-mentioned pin and slot provide, as will be understood, a lost motion connection between the retracting lever i and the. linkv I00.

, The supplemental lever 92 is disposed to be operated by the, usual rollback. I62, which is providedwitliasquaredspindle I64. The spindle I164, in turn, is; connected to, the outside door handle I66, andyit, will be understood that, if desired, the rollback I62; may be of the scissorlike form described and claimed in Moore Patent No. 1,895,893, which is assigned to the assignee of; the present application.

In accordance withthe disclosure of the cop-ending application of. Rollo Marple, Serial No. 235,982, filed October 20, 1938, and assigned to the assignee hereof, the-present arrangement employs a locking roller I26, which is carried at the end of a link I22 and, one end whereof rides in an elongated. slot 124 in the plate 80. The other end of the link I22is connected, through a bell crank I26, to a locking push button I2'8, whic'h normallyprojects upwardly through the garnish moldingof thedoor- I6; A depressing movement of the push button I28 causes the roller I" to advance downwardlyand to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, and brings the body of the roller I20 intoblocking relation to the arcuate portion I36 of the. retracting lever-'46. With the roller I26 in the just-mentioned position, clockwise or retracting movementiof the lever 46 isprevented; and both the inside-and outside handles are conse'ouently, renderedsinefiective torelease the-bolt. 76

In order to enable a closing movement of the door to reset the locking roller I26 to the unlocked position of Fig. 2, the kickoff lever I32 is provided. The lever I32 is pivoted on the previously mentioned pin 84 between the retracting ever 46 and the deck 82. One end I34 of the lever I62 lies beneath the previously mentioned foot 42, associated with the cams 36, and the other end I36 thereof lies below and in camrning relation to the locking roller I26. As described below, a closing movement of the door swings the earns 36, and consequently rocks the lever I32 in a clockwise direction. This action is Without effect if the locking roller I26 is in the normal position, but if such roller is in the locking position, this movement of the lever I32 cams the roller I26 to the unlocked position.

It is noted that the lever 92 li-es immediately adjacent the plate 86, and the lever I32 lies immediately adjacent to the deck 82, the lever 46 being positioned therebetween, as aforesaid. The lower end of the arm 88 of. the lever 46 is oifset so as to clear the, flange 96, so that the lever 46- may be operated by the inside handle Without altering the position of the lever 62.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 4 through 9, the keeper designated as a whole as I46 comprises a base I62 which may be and preferably is formed as a stamping and which is adapted to be secured to the door pillar by means of a plurality of screws I44. The keeper I46 carries an upper bolt engaging. member I46 and a lower abutment I66. Thev member I46 and the abutment I43 may be and preferably are formed as cuplike stampings, which are telescoped over embossments I56 and 452, formed on the keeper base I42 and which are secured in place by means of rivets I54 and I66.

The bolt engaging keeper member I46 is of generally triangular form, having an upwardly sloping, front face i535, which cooperates with the bolt 22 to rotate the latter into the locking position shown in Fig. 5. The member I45 is also provid-ed'with an upwardly sloping rear face. I60,

, which is engaged by a tooth 24 of the bolt 22 to hold the door in the fully closed position.

Zlhe safety catch mechanism of the present structure comprises the arcuately formed finger I62, which is slidably received in 9. correspondingly arcuate pocket formed in the member I46 and which is defined by the wall portions M611 and I461) of the member I46, by the outer'face "of the embossment I56, and by-the upperedge of a. supporting member I64, which is received within the member I46 and' issecured in place therein by means of the previously mentioned rivet I54. A pin I66 is driven through the finger I62- and the outer reduced ends of the pin I66 freely. ride in arcuate slots, I66 and H6; provided therefor in the embossment I56. and in the member I46; The slots and the pin I.66--th-us'cooperate todefine the limits of movement of the finger 162 and the latter is normally urged to the projected position shown in Figs. 5 through 8 by meansiof aspring I72, which is coiled about therivet vI 5'4 and the respective ends of which bear against the end of the finger I62 and the Wall of the member I462 The finger may, however, be moved to the retracted position shown-in Fig. 9.

The outer end of the finger I62 is provided with an upwardly. inclining leading face I14 and a substantiallyv vertical rear face- I16, and such exposed end of the finger ispositioned in the path of movement of. an uppermost tooth-24 of the bolt 22. The inclination of the leading face I 14, in relation to the form of the bolt teeth 24, is such that during a closing movement of the door the bolt is enabled to cam the finger I62 from the projected position of Figs. through 8 to the retracted position of Fig. 9, thus enabling the bolt to pass the finger I62 without requiring any rotation of the bolt 22. As soon, however, as such uppermost bolt tooth 24 passes to the left, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, beyond the end of the finger I62, the spring I12 associated therewith restores the finger to the projected position. The inclination of the rear face I16 of the finger, in relation to the form of the teeth 24, is such that the finger I62 blocks movement of the bolt 22 in an opening or rightward direction, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6. The finger I62 is thus ineffective to interfere with a closing movement of the bolt, but is effective to prevent an opening movement of the bolt, unless the latter is freed from the restraining infiuence of the cams 36, as hereinafter described.

It will be noticed that the horizontal spacing between the finger I62 and the leading face I58 of the keeper member I46 is sufilcient to receive one tooth 24 of the bolt 22, so that during an opening movement of the door, as described below, the bolt 22 is enabled to roll past the member I46 and the finger I62 much in the manner that a gear rolls over a rack. As also described below, the member I46 is effective, during a closing movement of the door, to cause the bolt 22 to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6. This clockwise rotation of the bolt occurs during the time that the bolt is being bodily moved to the left, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, and the just-mentioned spacing between the finger I62 and the member I46 is sufiicient to freely enable such clockwise rotation of the bolt without causing the bolt teeth to engage the rear face of the finger I 62.

The lower keeper abutment I48 is provided with an upper surface I80, which inclines slightly upwardly in the direction of door closing movement, and the under surface I82 of the previously mentioned bolt housing 30 is correspondingly inclined. When the door is in the fully closed position, accordingly, the .bolt 22 and the housing 30 function as a male dovetail element, which is received between the member I46 and the abutment I48. In such closed position, the bolt 22 is continuously urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, by means of the cams 36, and this tendency causes the bolt 22 and the housing 30 to be wedged between the member I46 and the abutment I48.

Considering now the operation of the system as a whole, the parts are shown in Figs. 1 through 5 in the fully closed position of the door and the locking roller I20 is in the unlocked position. The bolt 22 may be released so as to permit an opening movement of the door by operating either the inside handle I03 or the outside handle I06. If the inside handle I03 is operated, the link I00 is drawn to the left, which action, through the pin 96 and the arm 88 of the retracting lever 46, rocks the latter in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. If the outside handle I06 is operated, the nose of the rollback I02 bears against the flange 90 of the lever 92 and the consequent clockwise motion of the latter is communicated to the lever 46 through the flange 90 and the arm 86 of the lever 46. Such a movement is, however, not communicated to the lever I00, since the pin 96 is enabled to ride in the previously mentioned slot 98 formed in the link I00.

The clockwise rotation of the lever 46 enables the nose 44 thereof to bear upon the cam foot 42 and rock the latter in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, thus moving the noses of the cams out of blocking relation to the inner or cam engaging teeth 26 of the bolt 22. This action enables the bolt 22 to freely rotate in either direction, and consequently, the outward pressure on the door I0 causes the bolt to move to the right, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, during which movement it rotates in a counterclockwise direction past the member I 46 and the finger I62.

Upon release of the inside or outside handle, as the case may be, the spring 94 is again effective to move or retain the rollback I 02 in the position shown in Fig. 2, and the usual mechanism (not shown) associated with the handle I03 becomes effective to move or retain the link I00 in the position shown in Fig. 2. Also, the springs 40 ar rendered effective to restore the cams to the positions shown in Fig. 4, and the latter movement restors the lever 46 to the position of Fig. 2. The cam movement also brings the noses of the cams into blocking relation to the bolt 22 and holds the latter in the position of Fig. 4. Thus, if the inside or the outside handle, as the case may be, is released at a time when the parts are in the position of Fig. 6, the bolt 22 is unable to rotate in a clockwise direction past the finger I62, and the latter becomes effective to hold the door in the partially closed or safety position.

During a closing movement of the door, the leading face of an uppermost bolt tooth 24 engages the leading face I14 of the finger I62. The springs 40, associated with the cams 36, are stronger than the spring I12, associated with the finger I62, and consequently, as previously mentioned, this engagement enables the bolt 22 to cam the finger I62 from the position of Figs. 5 and 6 to the retracted position of Fig. 9, enabling the bolt to advance to the position of Fig. 6. As soon as such uppermost bolt tooth 24 has passed beyond the finger I62, the spring I12 restores the latter to the active position of Figs. 5 and 6, thus enabling it to prevent a reopening movement of the door. The continued door closing movement brings the leading face of the abovementioned uppermost bolt tooth 24 into engage ment with the face I58 of the member I46 and the latter is enabled to rock the bolt in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6. This clockwise rotation enables an inner bolt tooth 26 to bear against the backs of the earns 36 and rotate them to a retracted position. As soon as the upper end of the inner bolt tooth 26, which causes the retracting movement of the cams, passes beyond the lower ends of the cams, the latter are enabled to resume the active positions shown in Fig. 4, in which they are effective to prevent a counterclockwise or door opening movement of the bolt 22. The final movement of the bolt also brings the next successive keeper engaging tooth 24 into solid bearing engagement with the rear face I60 of the keeper member I46, as previously described.

It will be noticed that the entire support for the finger I62 is comprised by the member I46, and that the over-al1 width of the keeper structure can, therefore, be minimized, thus adapting structures of the present type to doors having relatively narrow rails. Depending upon the form of the outer face lb of the door, it may be expected that the usual rubber door seal 193 will serve, during the final door closing movement, .to move the finger I62 to the retracted position in the same manner that the finger is moved to the retracted position by the bolt. 'With the illustrated construction, in which the outer face 9b of the door angles inwardly in the region of the keeper, it may be expected that thesealing strip will be ineffective to so retract the finger, in which event the latter will remain in the projected position when the door is fully closed and will slightly compress the sealing strip. With this arrangement, the finger I62 is in readiness to engage a bolt tooth and hold the :door in the safety position. In the former event, the initial opening movement of the door may be expected to release the finger [62 from the restraining influence of the seal, thereby enabling the spring I12 to move vthe finger I62 to the active position -before the bolt 22 is enabled to pass therebeyond. [It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the present invention provides an improved latch construction and that various modifications in the form, number and arrangement of parts may be made Without departing :from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What :is claimed is:

1. A keeper for cooperation with a toothed :pivoted bolt, comprising means defining a housing .and a tooth-like projection over which said abo'lt :may rotate so as to bring a tooth thereof behind said projection, a safety catch received in said housing and guidably supported therein for bodily slidinsmov me t thereinto and'thereout of between a retracted position and a projected position in which the end of the catch projects outwardly of the housing sufficiently far to engage a tooth of said bolt, the said end of the catch when projected being spaced in advance of the said projection and said spacing being sufficient to receive a said tooth of the bolt so as to enable said bolt to roll past the said projection and end of said catch.

2. A keeper for cooperation with a toothed piv-. oted bolt, comprising means defining a housing and a tooth-like projection over which said bolt :may'rotate so as to bring a tooth thereof behind when projected being spaced in advance of the said projection and, said spacing being sufiicient to receive a said tooth of the bolt so as to enable said boltto roll past the said projection and end .of said catch, said catch being bodily retractable .to the retracted position by and when engaged bythe bolt during a movement of the bolt relative to the keeper in one direction, but constituting a holding surface for the bolt when engaged thereby during movement in an opposite direction.

ALBERT F. BAKER. 

